The dead, Shilpi, and Shipra, each 20 years old, were quality controller and quality in-charge of the garment factory, Sidma Fashion. Shilpi hailed from Brahmanbaria district and Shipra from Raozan in Chittagong.

Of the injured, Mizanur Rahman, 25, of Mymensingh and Abul Hashem, 26, are undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for critical burn injuries.

The other injured including Sharmin, 20, and Banu Akter, 23, of Comilla; Shanu, 21, of Noakhali, Hasina, 22, Shahnoor, 18, Yasmin, 18, Tafura, 35, Faruq, 18, and Mostafa, 18, of Mymensingh; Munna, 20, of Patiya in Chittagong, Sagor, age unknown, of Dhaka and Abul Kashem, 25, were released after first-aid from the CMCH.

Police and witnesses said some 20 factory workers were at work on the third floor of the factory on Kadamtoli DT (Dhaka Trunk) Road when an iron boiler exploded with a loud bang at around 10:30am.

Security Guard Shah Alam said hearing the sound of the explosion he entered the room to see most of workers lying on the floor with blood all around them and screaming for help.

The injured were rushed to the CMCH where Shilpi and Shipra were declared dead on arrival.

The blast blew up the windowpanes while an eight-inch wide wall beside the boiler collapsed on impact.

Farid Ahmad, a director of the factory, believes power fluctuation could have caused the explosion.

Some workers however contradicted the director saying that there was no electricity when the incident happened and a power generator was on. The explosion could have been more severe had there been electricity, they noted.

Jasim Ahmed, another director and brother of Farid Ahmed, said they would compensate the victims. A three-member team of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association started for Chittagong yesterday afternoon to determine the compensation for the affected, he added.

Officials at Double Mooring Police Station meanwhile said no case was filed in connection with the incident until last evening. Police will probe the incident to see if negligence was the cause, they said.